Nine cast members and four crew members will be working hard this weekend to make sure the play "Suite Surrender" is a hit with audiences.

The story takes place at the Palm Beach Royale Resort's presidential suite in 1942 when two rival divas are booked into the room. Humor ensues when staff members attempt to keep the pair apart and succeed with only seconds to spare in various circumstances. Meanwhile, a nosey reporter tries to gain access to both starlets, one of the diva's assistants is the long-lost love of the hotel's bellhop and members of the United States Navy are tearing the lobby apart while on shore leave.

"It's going to get a lot of laughs," said play director Trish Carter, adding the script has some physical comedy and period jokes to enjoy. "It's a great story line and it's going to keep everything interesting."

She said though the cast is small, it is a production the students are able to take part in on a larger scale as they work on their acting, set, costume and general theater skills.

"The idea is that it's more student driven and it keeps them learning and interested," Carter added.

Students Jordan White, 17, and Zack Curtis, 16, said they like their characters of Otis and Pippet.

"Otis is a really clumsy character. He's kind of all over the place, said White.

Pippet, who is the assistant of one of the divas, tends to her demands. Curtis said he was interested in the character from the beginning.

"It sounded like a lot of fun and I have a lot of funny lines," said Curtis.

He said the play has humor for the audience and also a plot twist at the end.

"A lot of things happen that catch you off guard," he added.

White said she hopes the audience appreciates the effort and hard work done by everyone to make the play a success.

"I really hope they see the potential in the students," she added.

Carter said in addition to the students taking part in the play, members of the Ionia Community Theatre will perform it in the weeks to come.

Performances for "Suite Surrender" will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday at Watt Auditorium. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.